I drop the good old days when phone launches were earphone launches and not AI event that I have to take up were createdusingAI that promptly disregard instructions and decided to make it all about itself . Google barely seemed to mention the recent phones and computer hardware and glossed over the technical school during its Made by Google event on August 13 in its rush to try and convince us that its AI is more interesting .
Not about phones
If you ’re seeking proof the case was n’t really about its Pixel phones , then look no further than Google using Samsung and Motorola phone on phase to march its AI features at an event it had already confirmed would featurenew Pixel 9 series equipment . It also led with 30 minutes of Gemini AI talk and demonstrations before it got to the phone . Even then , we find out a Pixel 9 used ( for an AI demo , of course ) before it was even verbalize about .
One 60 minutes into the effect , I ’d determine only a handful of renders showing the Pixel 9 phones , as the hardware was almost totally ignored . The new phones come out to be a wonderful evolution of what is already a brilliant design , and while Google had cameras capturing the “ action ” all over the stage , we never start out any lovely close - up looker shots of the earpiece .
Why ? Because everyone was heroic to show off how the AI would mess around with my photos , tell me the atmospheric condition , organize screenshots , and say “ super ” a caboodle . The job is that none of Google ’s AI presentment were that compelling . It was all the same variations on a theme we saw duringGoogle I / Othis year . In fact , there were times when I experience I was reliving Google I / O , whichwasn’t something I relish .
It only got worse
The excitingPixel sentinel 3’sintroduction was all over in less than 10 minutes , despite it bear one of the only really interesting feature of the event — release of Pulse Detection . This is a health lineament we have never seen before , and unlike most of the AI demos , it was something that everyone could straight off empathise why it mattered and how it may in reality make a difference of opinion to someone ’s life .
But Google could n’t hold back for long because as presently as thePixel Buds Pro 2came out , it jump at the chance to do a live presentment of someone verbalise to Gemini Live . It was as awkward and cringe - inducement as all the other Army of the Pure - talk - to - AI demonstrations during the event , so we still did n’t learn anything fresh , and it surely did n’t do anything to sell the Cartesian product .
“ The Gemini era is tangible , ” said Google ’s vice chairperson of platform and machine , Rick Osterloh , when closing the consequence before go on to talkeven moreabout AI . At least it was aboutProject Astra , which was one of the only interesting things that come out of Google I / O. Yet , here , it did n’t appear very interesting at all because of the massive AI overload everyone had pose through . On and on the closing demonstrations go , with evermore outlandish question I do n’t trust anyone will ever ask AI with any seriousness . Like how to take up a concern .
It’s all over
When the upshot wasfinallydone , Osterloh said meeter could go and try the AI features straight . He did n’t say go and test the Pixel 9 , the Pixel 9 Pro Fold , or the Pixel Watch . Google ’s mind is exclusively on Gemini and AI , to the compass point where it has forgotten that we all need to grease one’s palms the phone , scout , and earbuds to expend them . I conceive some new gimmick were launched during the event that would fit the posting , but I must have missed the particular when I went to the bathroom .
I require to know about the hardware and the underlying tech that makes the AI employment . I want to be beguiled by the raw innovation and understand every curved shape of the updated shape . I require to recognize about the test process that enabled the phones to be double as durable , and I want to see the validation of it , too . Drop a speech sound out of a plane or something . Show me the watch on a wrist with different straps , how unlike the new size looks , and just how much littler the bezels are . I want to fall in dearest with the product during a intersection launching event , but I came away from this one just knowing them at all .
Oh , and if you stayed around for the After Party livestream , Hot Oneshost Sean Evans sit down with Osterloh and fed him spicy wings and prewritten questions . The first one ? “ What makes you most emotional about the current United States Department of State of AI ? ” It would be suspicious if it was n’t so utterly soul - destroying .
